Refrigerator construction having air and water vapor circulating means



Jan- 12, 1954 A. J. PEDlGo 2,665,562

REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR AND WATER vAPoR CIRCULATING MEANS Filedmay 28, 1951 ,v sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1954 A. J. PEDlGo RERRIOERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR 2,665,562 AND WATER VAPOR CIRCULATING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sh'et 2 Filed May 28, 1951 Jan. l2, 1954 A. J. PEDlGo 2,665,562

REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION x-uwmc :ma

` AND WATER VAPOR CIRCULATING MEANS Filed May 28, 1951 7 Sheets-S1186?. 3

/f 44 I cY /64 /Z /2 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 12, 1954 A. J. PEDIG'O 2,665,562

REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR AND WATER VAPOR CIRCULATING MEANS Filed May 28, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheetl 4 www Jan. 12, 1954 A. J. PEDlGo 2,665,562

REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR AND WATER VAPOR CIRCULATING MEANS Filed May 28, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. l2, 1954 A. J. PEDlGo REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR AND WATER VAPOR CIRCULATING MEANS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 28, 1951 /f f f Jan. 12, 1954 Filed May 28, 1951 A. J. Pl-:DlGo 2,665,562 REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION HAVING AIR AND WATER vAPoR cIRcuLATING MEANS v sneetssnet 7 Arrokyiy Patented Jan. 12, 1954 2,665,562 IOSI-:il: I CE HAVING AIR AND `Wanne vieron @Increasing MEAN .S

Arthur J. yredige, Rahmens, ya. Application MayZS, 1951, Serial No.;228680 (Cl. (i2-43j) e .'Ihisinvention relates `generally to the kclass .of refrigeration. and is directed. particularly to .an .improved refrigerator structure which lis designed primarily .for domestic use although it is not necessarily restricted to such use. h object of the presentinventionis-to .provide an `improved refrigerator structure .designed to V:blscfbcth ice and mechanicalrefrigerating means constructed in a novel manner whereby a .continuous movement or circulation of v air 'is vmaintained therein. Another object of vthe invention .is .to provide .an `improved refrigerator structure of the char- Aacter .above set forth, having a freezing-compartment constructed and arranged ina 4novel 4manner within the lrefrigerator cabinet.

.Still another object Aof the invention is to Yprovvide a Arefrigerator structure employing -both mechanical means and 4ice for maintaining the desired temperature level, wherein the ice con- *taining 'portion of the structure, ltogether with baille AWalls for :producing a desired circulaticnof air `from lthe lower Vpart of the structure through Athe ice chamber, are :all mounted in.a=novel.man ner 'upon a singlesupporting frame.

4Still another Aobject of the invention is .to provide vin a refrigerator structure .of the .character stated, means for humidifying theA air as :it circulates in `the structure, .which means is automatically controlled simultaneously `with the a mechanical .refrigerating mechanism, to discharge -water vapor into the circulating -air'when :the compressor mechanism lbegins to function.

Another object o f the invention is to A,providein :a Irefrigerator structure of the character stated, a novel automatic .window control l,mechanisiri whereby the vapor chamber is automatically put Linto communication with air circulatingpassages when the compressor mechanism and'humiditying apparatus start to function.

The invention will be 'best understood -'from aconsideration of the following detailed descrip- `tion takenin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe speciicatiomwith the understanding, however, that the :invention istnot to be'umited to the exact daraus -cf con- 4 struction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled 7in 'the art.

vIn the drawings: i

J'Figure 1 -is -a view in front elevation :of are- --frigerator constructed -in accordance-.with .anem- `bodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken :through 'theupper part 'ofethe structure substantially in ntheplane of the yline 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 isa sectional View.takenrsubstantially on the line :3-3 of 'Figure 2.

-Figure 4 is a horizontal section takenfsubstan- 'tially on the line 'f3- of Figure 3.

Figure 5 isadetail section .takensubstantially on-the line :5 5 of Figure 4.

vFigiu'e 6 .is a fragmentary sectional view :taken substantially Aon the line "S1-' ,ofFigure ,2, looking .the .direction .ef the arrows.' 4Figure '7 'is .e `Seetiefilell .View teken en the line 1.-1 vof Figure .Figure i8' 'is .e new in nerepeetive of the refrigeretiris .Coils es .used .a .commercial -fennf the ...structure.l inigure l9 is a getan View partly insecticn and artlv iin elevation ef the Sprayu'nit endlbart ef .the operating means therefer! l vFigure 10 is a 'View in yperspective ofthe Lbell crank part of "the spray unit. Y

Figure ljl is vaview vof said Ybell crank part `as Seen Lfrem Lthe side nearest 'the zeperatinseheft- Figure :'12 .is e perepeeiive 'View ef erle "ef the perforated :plates .forming e inert ef 'the'iee :gridliigurel3is a detail, perspective, of apart p f the back Vedge lof'a baille wall.

Figure lli is a Asectional' detail taken substan- Ltially on 'the Aline M--H -of 'Figure 1. Figure l5 *isa vertical section corresponding 'to Figure'taken-through the upper half ofthe refrigeratorstructure 4with a portion of the freezing compartment area broken out, showing a modified ,design for connnercial installations.

Figurer'l' lis aseetieriajl View taken substantially Yon the iline iid-1 6 ofFigure lshowing'one form .of ,supporting means furthe severalspray'valves. "..Fielirel .is e detail Seeloniekel?Sbstentelly on thelne Ij'l-'Il of Figure k2.

Figure '11"3 `is va view inpers'pectiveof the system Tof .coils as used `in 'the refrigerator for domestic use. V,Figure le is a p lanview of fthe water coil in Y the coinmercial `refrijgerator construction, with which'. V ray jets ,var elconnected.

"liteP ,rringgnowgmore `particularly to the @draw- 'iese .the .refrigerator cabinet iis generally desisten .Wall .l2 .and eide Wells ST4-,

v"fljhe numeral' t6' designates :the `front in which are *formed the -upper and `-lower ldoor openings hated 1C which includes the 'back Wall' lill, the

*t3 and L2li)respectivelywhich are :divided by .the n 'horizontal mullionwail 22.

The upper and lower doors `for .covering ;-the Vopenings IIB and v 20 are designated .respectively Theswalls'areall double asshown, in that they ihave .the -Jinner land :outer sheathing l'of sheet -metal ydesignated .respectively ,slung-lub; Y"la--JI 2b; f and Ma-Mb, Viilled 'with l"suitable heat insulation material I.

'iEach of the -side :Walls All reduced iin thickness atabout the elevation of the lower ,part ,'of .the ;mullion :front ipiece :22 .as ...shown in Figure 3, thereby forming upon each jside Qftheinteriqrgf .the cabinetxstructurettheshouldersor 1edge-29 pas shown .Figure 2,f,which :ledge extends V.from Ytlm itront to ,the .'back .of vfthe cabinet.

:Inforder te .strensthenfthe inner well Structure below ine flesse ...er sheuleler .there is disposed fat eaehiside eef fihegeftigsleiqf .e .transverse S11P- 3 porting bar 29a as shown in Figure 3 which engages the underside of the ledge 29 and has its ends secured to the front and back walls in a suitable manner, not shown.

The numeral 30 designates generally a rectangular frame piece which is made up of the two side portions 3l and the front and back portions 32 and 33 respectively, which side, front and back portions are of substantial width and are disposed vertically within the cabinet and the side portions 3l rest upon the adjacent ledges 29 as shown most clearly in Figure 3. This frame carries the major portion of the mechanism within the cabinet as hereinafter described.

The sheet Ina of the back wall has secured horizontally thereto on the back side thereof, the horizontal bar 34 and below this bar are secured, to the face of the wall sheet illu., the vertically spaced horizontal and forwardly projecting thin plates 35. These plates at their forward edges have welded thereto the upstanding lugs 35 which are tapped to receive screw members for the purpose about to be described.

Disposed horizontally upon each of the plates 35 is a cylinder 31 of about two inches in diameter and these are closed at their ends as shown Ain Figure 4 but the cylinders are connected to form a continuous passageway, by means of the small diameter return bend pipes 38 as clearly shown vin Figure 6, the uppermost one of the cylinders 31 being connected to a water supply line 39 while the lowermost one is connected with the water return or outlet line 40.

Overlying the water cylinders 31 and serving as a shield therefor is the plate 4i, the upper edge portion of which is extended rearwardly and upwardly to lie against the back wall sheet la where it is secured by bolts 42 which extend into the bar 34. In addition to the securing bolts 42 the shield plate 4| has passed therethrough screws 43 which enter the lugs 35. Each vertical edge of the plate 4I has integral therewith the forwardly projecting flange 4ta, see Figure 4, the function of which is hereinafter set forth.

In the top central part of the cabinet C is located the freezer compartment or chamber .which is generally designated 44. This freezing compartment comprises the two vertical side walls, each generally designated 45 which are spaced a substantial distance inwardly from the Vside walls I4 of the cabinet. Each of the freezing compartment side walls 45 has the outer wall sheet 45a which, as shown in Figure 3, forms a downward continuation of the top wall inner ysheet 12a. Each wall vsheet 45a terminates at its bottom edge in the inwardly directed horizontal flange 45h.

Extending forwardly from and forming a continuation of the inner wall sheet Ia of the back wall I0, as shown in Figure 2, is the horizontal bottom wall sheet 43 which, as shown in Figure 3,

has the downturned side flanges 45a which oppose the inwardly directed edges of the flanges To strengthen the wall sheets 45a and 4'6 there are provided the horizontal bars 46h which are formed of a suitable heat insulation material and which extend from the front part of the cabinet to the rear and butt against the rear wall *sheet Ib. These bars 4Gb are positioned in the angle between the wall sheet 45a and the flange 45h and the downturned flanges 46a of the bottom sheet 46 are secured to the insulation bars 45h but are spaced from the metal ange 45h as shown in Figure 3. The rear ends of the bars 46h are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the back wall outside sheet 10b.

Disposed between the wall sheets 45a and above the bottom sheet 46 is the metal shell generally designated 41 which forms the inner wall lining of the freezing compartment and which comprises the top and bottom sheets 41a and 41h respectively, the side wall sheets 41o, and the back wall sheet 41d, shown in Figure 2. The front of this shell is open and is secured to a rectangular door frame which is generally designated F. This frame includes the vertical side portions f' and the top and bottom transverse portions f" and f", as shown in Figure 17. As is also shown in this gure the bottom portion or bar of the frame F extends across and is joined to the horizontal front to rear bars 45h.

Extending across the front of the cabinet below the top wall sheet i211 is a bar I 5a and in this bar are mortised the front ends of top front to rear suspension bars 16h, the rear ends of which are supported on angle brackets IGc and secured to the outer or back wall sheet 10b as shown in Figure 2.

The top transverse bar or rail f" is secured to the suspension bars |62) by screws 16d, or the like, as shown in Figure 2.

In addition to providing a connection such as the screws IGd, between the top 41a of the freezing compartment and the bar IBb, the top, bottom and side bars of the frame F are suitably recessed as indicated at 15e in Figure 2 to receive the lateral bordering angle flange lf which is formed around the forward edges of the top, bottom and side walls of the freezing compartment. This bordering angle nange forms a suitable recess in which are received the edges of the front doors 56 for the freezing compartment. Such doors are hinged at the sides of the frame structure in any suitable manner as by means of the illustrated hinges 51. Thus it will be seen that the entire shell 41 is maintained in spaced relation with the side wall sheets 45a and the bottom sheet 46. It will be seen also that .the shell 41 of the freezing compartment is completely free of any contact with the metal parts of the rest of the casing. As previously stated the supporting bars 46h and leb, as well as the top and bottom portion and side portions of the frame F are made of a suitable heat insulation material or at least a material which is of low heat conductivity.

As shown the insulation material I is introduced between the shell 41 and the adjacent sheets 45al and 46.

Completely encircling the freezing compartment shell 41 are convolutions of a freezing coil 48. As illustrated the coil is wrapped around the shell and is in Contact therewith. Thus it will be seen that the freezing coil may be installed with the shell in setting up the refrigerator structure and also it is supported by the shell which in turn is supported by the bars hereinbefore referred to.

-As is shown in Figure 18, one end of the freezing compartment coil 48 has connected therewith the refrigerant supply pipe 52 which, of course, leads from the compressor mechanism, not shown, and the admission of the refrigerant into the coil 48 for expansion is controlled by the expansion valve 53. The refrigerant supply line 52 is also connected at the end which leads to the coil'48, to a pipe 54 through an expansion iof the freezing compartment,fisafvertical baille 58 which .engages at 'its top edge against the under side Aof the top wall I2 and along its 'back-edge against the rear wall l0, and the lowervend of each baille extends into ithe frame 31| and has :a shor-'t inwardly angled-bottom 58. 'The baffles 58 are held in 4the supporting -frame 3| between ythe front and back sections thereof in Aany suitable manner. Each of the "ballles 58 has the lower vpart of its 'back edge notched as at )58a to en gage the top edge of the frame, and above 4this Vnotch the `portion r58h engages against the -f-ace ofthe water tube shield plate 11|.y Above the edge `portion 58h the lbale is cut, asshown at 58e and 58d to lie across the top part of the shiled plate 4|, so 4that the'ballle may contact the'back wall il! vfrom the top of the shield to the top vwall I2.

VThere is thus formed :between each :baille wall "59 and the 'adjacent lside Vwall 14, a vertical llue 6l) and between the inner side of each baiile wall B Iand the adjacent wall ofthe freezing Compa-rtment, a freezing coil area which is designated E l.

The top part of each baille wall 58 has an opening 62 therein for the movement of air from the flue 60 into the coil area 6|.

Disposed within each coil area 6| is a freezing coil unit which is generally designated B3, the convolutions ofthe coils being horizontally dis- -posed as shown. As illustrated in Figure 18, the top or upper pipe of one coil unit 6 2 is connected to the pipeline 54 which is connected to the expansion valve 'and the lower part of this unit vis connected by the cross over piped, with the lower part of the freezing coil .unit 63 at the opposite side of the cabinet, the upper partei lthis last named unit being connected by the pipe 65 with the vrefrigeration return pipe 65 with which is also connected ythe outlet .end 6l of the freezing cabinet coil unit 48.

Along the inner side of each ilange 45a of the freezer compartment bottom sheet 46, 'there ,is -secured a `guide track 68 and slidably supported between these guide tracks to lie below the sheet 46a, is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined air baille or deilector and'drip plate 69. This de- Ilector and drip plateforme the roof or cover over the hereinafter described ice chamber.

The deflector 69 has the rear half portion thereof pressed to form a water tray 69a.V In this tray a quantity of water is kept for kthe purpose of absorbing odors which it will do when chilled. Also any moisture which may form on the underside of the sheet 46 will drip olf onto the deflectcr and runinto the tray, any excess flowing -from vthe rear end of the tray onto and down the surface of the cover plate 4|.

The chilling of the water will be 'brought about lprimarily by cool air leaking through the insulation -frorn the frozen food compartment lying above the water pan and baille. Also water lying in the pan will serve as Van indicator of the need for raising the temperature in the frozen -food compartment vwhen `the water begins to freeze, at which time .the expansion of the .refrgrantin the .coil around the food compartment can befcut downto thereby 4increase the `econonriir of operation.

Secured along the 'underside of each nange 45o is an angle bar .lll to whichissecured ith'etop edge of a downwardly'extendingrheavywiremesh wall .'Il. 'This vWall :extends .fall of the way back to Ithe kplate 4| butrat its .front .edge .terminates short l of ,the inner sidefof thegmullion 22 .asfshown in Figure 2. Along :the bottom of each hea-yy wire Awall 1|, a portion :of 4the wall is turned to extend inwardly and downwardly as indicated at 1'2, 4' Fgure 3.

vSecured to .the top edge fof the front part of-the :frame 39, byhinges l5, is a door panel 1t-which closes the lower part :of the space between l:the side walls 1|. Thus there isformed yan ice cham-- ber or compartment which ,is generally designated Il which has -for its back wall the cover 4plate di which :overlies the water tubes 31 as 'shown in Figure 2.

The nturned lower portions l2 of thescneen walls form a part of the bottom `frametstrfnctune or rack upon which the iice yis placed, fthe `front and back of such rack, which isvgenerally `designated I 8., beingformed :bythe 'front and aback plates :'19 and 80 rrespecti-vel-y. These. plates '19 and 8 0 are joinedto the adjacent edges `of l.the screen vwalls 'H and .they have 'the .angularly turned :flanges :8| at their ends which engage -Jceneaththeinclined portions 12.

To assist in supporting the ice compartment. yeach of the plates le and rests `upon anangle bar .32 which, as shown in Figures '.2 .and 3, is .fse- .cured to the inner face of the adjacent .part of the supporting frame .30. i

Extending from lthe front to .the rear iof the :rack structure and forming a parit thereof, are division plates or webs 83 Awhich are secured .at their ends to the inner faces of :theplates 'E19 `and 80 as shown'inFigure 2. As is also shown in this figure the top edges .of :the plates 83 .are :horizontal .and slightly below the plane .of the top edges of the plates 79 and 8 0fwhile the lower edges of the plates .8.3 are inclined to :extend upwardly from the bottomedge of the forward plate?! 9..

Extending across and joined to the :bottom edges ofthe web plates 8.3 .are bars 84 A.which project at their ends slightly beyond the .bottom edges `:of the portions .12. ofthe-screen side fwalls which bar ends assist in supporting :the screen along its lower edge. These bars are thus -disposed in a common plane which :slopes upwardly andrearwardly as shown in Figure V2.

Resting upon the vbars :in the'spac'es between the web Aplates yor division `plates 63 are the apertured grids 85. These grids are of V-shape cross section as shown `in Figures :5 and 1-2 .and are placed with the channel sides -down so that the longitudinal edges of the grids rest upon the bars v.84 against :the .adjacent .division plates 48.3; The .grids 85 vare loosely Vplaced upon thebarsfd and may therefore be readily removed for cleaning if and when necessary. l

.In the .construction above described a denite and very .desirable function 4is accomplished. The design of the plates and the manner in which the apertured grids are supported as a result .ofssuch design yeffects `the movement ofthe air from `the front of the structure to the rear V-i-nvcoacticn with other parts of the structure lying below the apertured grids such `as the bottom or floor portions of the air conditioningchamber. With thedescribed .arrangement of the plates .8,3 and ,grids 85 .it will be seen that the ice chamber will have a greater depth at the front, from where the ice will be removed as needed and accordingly a larger quantity will be available in the front of the compartment and also the' inclination of the grids will tend to cause the ice to gravitate into the deep front part of the compartment.

The top edges of the divisionplates 83 are slotted'at suitable intervals as indicated at 80, Figure 2, to receive the convolutions of a flat water coil which is generally designated 81.

Disposed upon and extending longitudinally of the top edge of each division plate 83 is a flat plate strip 89 which is also slotted to receive the upper portion of each convolution of the water coil and the front and rear plates 19 and 80 of the rack have slots therein at 89, to receive the bottom edge of the strip 88.

One end of the water coil 81 is connected as Aindicated at 90, Figures 2, 4 and 6, into a water tube 31 while the other end of the coil which is at the center, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, con- :nects with a downwardly directed spray pipe 9|, as v shown in Figure 2.

Below the ice compartment 11 is an air conditioner chamber which is generally designated 92. This chamber comprises the side walls 93 which are spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the cabinet side walls I4 below the ledge 29, as shown' in Figure 3. The walls 93 of the air conditioner chamber extend upwardly and along the outwardly sloping underside of the adjacent portion 58 of the baille wall 58, as indicated at 90. These walls 93 and 94 may be secured to the baille wall by bolts 59, as illustrated or in any other suitable manner. At the back ofthe air conditioner chamber is a back wall 95 which at its top edge abuts the lower edge of the water tube shield plate 4| as shown in Figure 1. As is also shown in this gure the lower edge of the back wall 95 is at a higher elevation than the side walls at the front edges of the latter and the side walls also slope upwardly slightly toward the rear.

To further assist in the maintenance of the baiiies 50 in desired position, each of the front and back sections has an inwardly projecting ange 33a. against which rests the adjacent wall portion 9-4 of the air conditioner structure 92.

The front of the air conditioner chamber is closed by a front wall or panel 9E in the lower central portion of which is the opening 91 which is covered .by the outwardly and downwardly swinging door 98. This front panel 96 extends across the entire width of the front door opening below the level of the mullion 22 and is preferably made of metal so as to completely cover or hide the mechanism therebehind.

The numeral 99 designates the bottom or oor of the air conditioning chamber which, as shown, is secured to the bottom edges of the side and back walls and abuts the rear face of the front wall panel 90. This floor slopes downwardly and `forwardly for the major portion of its length from the back to the front, as shown in Figure 2,

the forward central portion of the floor being substantially horizontal and the oor also has upwardly sloping sides 99a as shown in Figure 3 which merge with a central portion 99h. In this central portion -is formed a rectangular opening which is enclosed by the upstanding rectangular screen wall |0| over the top of which is a cover |02. As shown in Figure 3 the cover |02 is substantially in the form of a hip roof which rests upon supporting posts |0|a in the corners of the foraminous walls forming the enclosure |0|. This cover or roof prevents 8 drippings from the ice in the overlying ice charnber from passing downwardly through the opening |00 into the vfood chamber below while the foraminous wall 10| permits the ready up-ilow of air currents from the food chamber, as will be readily apparent.

By having the bottom edge of the back wall at a higher elevation than the forward ends of the side walls 93 as hereinbefore set forth it will be seen that the floor parts 99 and 99a will slope respectively upwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and laterally. As a result the cold air from the refrigeration elements, passing down through the opening |00 in the center of the drip pan will have a tendency to force the warm air to the rear and to the sides.

The pipe 9| has secured to the lower end, a spray nozzle |03 which has a constricted outlet |04 as shown in Figure 9. This nozzle outlet is directed downwardly toward and concentric with an opening |05 in the center of the cover or roof |02.

Secured to the nozzle |03 is a bracket |06 having two upwardly directed guides |01 through which are slidably extended the lpins |08 which at their lower ends are attached to a deilector'or splash plate |09. This plate is directly -beneath the outlet |04 of the nozzle and it carries at its center the upwardly directed needle I0 which is adapted to enter the nozzle outlet when the plate |09 is moved upwardly.

From the underside of the plate |09 there extends downwardly the stem ywhich passes through the opening |05, as shown. This stem carries the transverse pivot pin ||2 upon which is rotatably mounted a roller I3.

Surrounding the stem and interposed between the plate |09 and the roof 02 is an expansion spring ||4 which normally urges the plate upwardly so as to introduce the needle I0 into the nozzle outlet to close the nozzle.

The numeral ||5 designates a bell crank which is pivotally supported at the junction of its two arms ||6 and on a fixed pivot H8 which is supported in any suitable manner. The means here shown for supporting the pivot |8 and the bell crank, comprises a pair of hanger members I9 which are secured to the underside of the roof |02. However, any other suitable supporting means may be provided.

The arm ||5 is substantially horizontally disposed and has formed therein elliptical opening |20 which extends lengthwise of the arm and in which is slidably engaged the roller H3.

Each of the side walls 93 of the air conditioning chamber has a window opening |2| therein in which is mounted for turning on a horizontal pivot, a window |22.

In the back wall is a corresponding opening |23 in which is mounted for swinging movement von a horizontal axis, a window |24.

Supported in -a suitable bearing |25, Figure 2, extending through the back wall 95 of the air conditioning chamber is a rocker shaft |20 which extends forwardly toward and is substantially in alignment with the roller pivot H2, adjacent to which its forward end terminates. The forward end of this shaft |26 has secured thereto one end of a crank arm |21 and the lower end of this crank arm |21 is pivotally coupled with an end of a link |28 which has its other end pivotally coupled to the lower end of the arm ||1 of the bell crank as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

The end of the link |28 which is coupled with the lower end of the crank |21 has attached thereto one end of a pull spring |36, the other 9 end' of which is attached to any suitable xed part of the structure such asf, forA example, the adjacent side of the opening |00, formed' in the airconditioner chamber floor 99. This spring, assists the spring I4, in urging the valve needle toclosed position in the nozzle outlet |94.

Upon the rear endA of the shaft |25 outside of the air conditioning chamber there is secu-red', in'- termediatey its ends; a crank armi2'9. One end of this crank arm is connected by a pull rod |30, to the overlying window |24, adjacent to' the tcp thereof or about its horizontal pivot.

At one side of they shaftV |26 and at an elevation above the same, there is mounted ina suitable manner as, for example, upon the back wall 95 of the airconditioning chamber, a solenoid mage net |3f| having` an armature core |32, the magnet being supported so that'thecore will move horizontally in a path perpendicular to the.` shaft |26. 'I'his magnet core or armature is connected by a link |33, with the other end of the crank |29. Thus itwilI be seen that upon energzati'on ofthe magnet so asV to effect movement of the armature |132 thereinto, the crank |29` will be oscillated in a direction to pull down upon the. window actuatingrod |39so asto. open the window.

Inside of. the. air conditioning chamber the shaft |29 carries: an. upstanding crank arm |34 and thisy has attached to its upper end the adjustable coupling rods |35, each of which is connected to a side windowV |22, one rod: being connected to the top= part of its windowv and they other rod. bei-ng. connected tothe bottom part of: its window. Thus it will be seen that. when. the shaft |26 is rockedv one: rod willk be pushed outwardly to open the windowv toy which it' is attached at the top and the other rod will be pulled inwardly to open the other window to which: itis attached at the bottom of the window. The same movement will effect the above stated pull upon the rod |139 to open the back window |24.

It will also be apparent that when' the magnet (3| is energized to eiiect the oscillation of the crank |29 and the turning. of the shaft |26, the crank |21 will be movedto operate the bell crank ||.5 to pulldown upon the stem l H thereby withdrawing the needle.v ||2xfrom the aperture of the spray nozzle |03-, When the magnet is deenergized the springsV IM and |39 will effect the reverse movement oi. the needle to close the valve and this will also` effect the reverse turningof theshaft 26...

` The electro-magnet |3| is connected in the circuit of the. operating. motor, not shown, for the refrigerant, compressor, not shown. Normally when the compressor motor is idle and net |3I' is deenergized. the. windows |22. and |24 will be closed` and the spray nozzle |03 will also be closed. When the compressor motor starts the magnet |3|. willv be energized. and this will effect the movement of the rods |30 and |35. to open the windows and it will also effect the withdrawal of the valve needle so that water under pressure will be ejected from the nozzle |03 and will strike the deflection plate |99. It will be understood that the nozzle aperture* is very minute so that the stream of' water ejected therefrom will be very ne and the water will accordingly strike the point of the needle ||`0 and be deflected laterally from the plate |09v in a highly diiTused mist. This will add tothe circulating air'in the refrigerator structure a certain amount of; moisture during .the operation of the compressor motor and when the motor stops the nozzle. will be. shutv olf.

Iny operation of the presentl refrigerator stmothe: magture the ice compartment is lled with ice cubes or broken ice, the same being introduced into the open front of the compartment and onto'therack structure 18, the lower front part of which compartment is covered by the door 16.

In order to prevent the escape of the lice pieces to the sides when introducing itv through the door opening, the door 'I6 is provided with the substantially triangular side wings or plates 16a, Figure 2, which swing upwardly and outwardly as the door is opened. Theinner corners of these plates come into contact with stop pins 1Gb carried by the side walls of the ice chamber, thereby limiting the outward swinging movement of the door.

The.y water'when discharged from they spray nozzle will be at the very lowest possible temperature because of4 its passage through the coil 8T on which ice. has been resting. Because` of thisy low temperature, when the water is first diiused. it will labsorb all of the. gases` in the immediate area or vicinity but asy theY temperature of the diusedwater rises moisture will be. added to the circulating.; air' and there will be discharged into such air, oxygen and' possibly some nitrogen which had been absorbed by the water. Since these gases are vital to the preservation of. the food or might be described: as being vital to the sustenance of.' life in the food it. will be readily seen that the. system ofv diiiusing chilled water into the atmosphere of the refrigerator structure will result inr the preservation. of foods for a longer period of time than would be the case` where such foods might be stored in other types of refrigerators where no water vapory in chilled form is added tol the circulating air of the` food compartment.

As will be readily apparent. the drippings from I the ice. contained in the icechamber willbe deposited upon the floor 99 in the airr conditioning compartment along with moisture' condensed from the air and the mist created within this compartment. and the accumulated water will `flow downwardly and forwardly to the lower forward part of the floor 99` where it will run into a. drain, trough |40- which will carry it laterally and discharge it into an outlet receptacle |4011 as. shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The water thus collected will contain absorbed gases and odors and will thus carry thev same out of the refrigerator structure when. being discharged through the outlet as set forth..

Below ther air conditioning chamber there are secured in spaced relation with the inner faces 4of the side wallsA I4,y the bale` walls |4|\. These walls have their top edges at a substantial ele- Vation above the bottom of the air conditioning chamber 92' and extend only part-way down into the food chamber and at their bottom edges they are joined by the floor plate. |42. The side walls and the floor plate 4| and |42 extend to the back wall of the cabinet. This is a part. of my co-pending application Serial No. 789,907. The iront of the area den-ned by the walls |4v| and floor |42, is closed by suitable doors I 42a, here shown as three in number although two doors .may be employed or even one if desired. In the construction shown there are provided the two vertical bars |4212 which are shown as secured between the oor plate |42 and the bottom of the panel 99. As shown in Figure l the two outside doors' |42a may be secured. to the adjacent sides of theopening frame for the door 2t so that their inner edges will close against av Vertical bar |-42fb and the middle door may be hinged t0 @ne 0f thebars |42b and close at itsY opposite l l. edge against the other bar. The compartment |43 thus formed may be employed for the keeping of foods which require a certain amount of moisture in the surrounding air. The floor plate |42 will permit the cold to penetrate into the lower part of the food chamber where there may be kept foods of the character which require a dryer atmosphere.

for the support of a shelf |46 or a plurality of the same.

For the purpose of hiding a portion of the mechanism when the top door 24 is opened, and also to cover the front part of each of the iiues 6| and B2, there are provided the insertedr side panels |50 which are best shown in Figures 1 and 4. These may be made of any suitable material such as metal, plastic, glass or the like.

By the provision of the water tubes 31, a storage space is provide-d in the refrigerator, for a quantity of water, for drinking or other purposes, which will be kept at a low temperature. The inlet or supply line 39 would be connected to a supply source, such as the city water supply main, while the return or outlet pipe line 40 would be connected to a suitable tap or faucet, not shown, which could be mounted directly upon the refrigerator cabinet or in any other desired location.

The construction illustrated in the foregoing figures is designed primarily for domestic use. Such structure, however, may with very' slight alterations be made suitable for commercial uses and in Figures 8, 15, 16 and 19 is illustrated a modified construction for commercial installations.

Since the majority of the parts and the structure in general, are the same in the commercial construction as in the domestic, the same reference characters will be employed for the same parts. In the commercial construction a principal change resides in the addition of a freezing coil, here designated 200, which is disposed horizontally beneath the bottom of the freezing compartment and above the air deflection and drip plate 69.

In the use of the horizontal freezing coil 200, the refrigerant conducting tubes 48 of the commercial form of the refrigerator, instead of completely encircling the freezing compartment as in the domestic form, pass back and forth across the sides 41e and top 41a of the shell 41 of the freezing compartment and are connected at one end to an end 61' of the horizontal freezing coil 200, the other end of the coil 200 being connected by pipe 61" with the refrigerant return line 66'.

'I'he commercial form of the refrigerator constructed in accordance with the present invention will have some dimensions different from the domestic form of the refrigerator as, for example, the commercial form will be of materially greater width and possibly depth, as compared to its height than will be the domestic form. Figure 15 illustrates the increased width of the refrigerator structure, it being understood, of course, as shown by the drawings that a substantial portion of the structure through the freezing compartment is cut out and the lower half of the structure is left out of the view in order to better illustrate the increased dimensions and some additional features as well as modifications of features of the domestic structure. As is illustrated in Figure 15 the commercial construction will have a greater number of web or division plates which are here designated 83a and, consequently, a greater number of perforated or apertured grids 85a would be employed.

The water coil 81a instead of being approximately circular as in the domestic construction, will be substantially elliptical as shown in Figure 19 and the inner end of the coil will have the centrally disposed long terminal pipe portion 81h, Figure 19, which will extend in the direction of the width of the refrigerator.

In the air conditioning compartment or chamber 92a a multiplicity of spraying units is provided as shown. Three such units are here illustrated but it will be understood that any desired number may be employed.

For the operation of these spraying units or spraying nozzles the central pipe 81h of the water coil 81a has connected therewith the three downwardly directed pipes 9|a in the lower end of each of which is the spray nozzle |0311.

For the support of the needle plate |0911r and the spring |4a therebeneath, of each spray unit the following structure may be provided.

Connected between the front and back members of the frame structure 30a, which front and back members correspond to the front and back members 19 and 80 of the frame structure 30 are suitable hangers 20|, with the lower ends of which are connected the end bars 202, Figure 16, of a horizontal frame which is generally designated 203 and which includes the spaced parallel side bars 204.

Suspended from the side bars 204 is a shorter horizontal frame shown in Figure l5 and designated 205 which provides a supporting means for the electro-magnet operated shaft |26.

The frame 203 supports suitable plates 206 upon each of which is supported a spring ||4a for the overlying spray nozzles |03a. These plates 206 also serve as means for supporting the depending arms or hangers 201, the central one of which supports the bell crank I |5a and links 'connected thereto as particularly illustrated in Figures 9 to l1 and by means of which the upwardly extending valve needle moving rod or stem |||a is actuated upon the turning of the shaft, not shown, with which it is connected, corresponding to shaft |26.

Each of the other hangers 201 carries a bell crank 5a which is connected by a link 208 with the centrally located bell crank so that the three Valves may be operated in unison.

In this modified construction the drip pan located below the spray units, is of the construction illustrated in my :zo-pending application Serial No. 789,907, filed December 5, 1947 now Patent No. 2,591,862 of April 8, 1952. This pan structure is generally designated 209. This pan structure broadly comprises a rectangular trough 2|0 which is supported horizontally on the inner upturned flanges 0f a rectangular trough like frame 2|! forming a part of the vertical walls 2|2 of the chamber. A number of gutters 2|3 extend transversely of the trough structure 2| 0 and open at their ends into the trough and these gutters have disposed above them and longitudinally thereof the trough members 214 which are inverted over the narrow dividing spaces between the parallel gutters 2|3 as shown, whereby any Water coming from the sprays above will be i3 'caused' to flow into the gutters and eventually into the side troughs to be carried off by means Yof' the drain 2 I5.

As previously stated, except for the above specifically described structural features, the conm struction illustrated in Figure 15, isv the same as that described hereinbefore and particularly illustrated in the preceding figures.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator construction of the character described, a cabinet, means therein providing an ice compartment, said compartment having foraminous side walls spaced from side walls of the cabinet, a chamber unit below said compartment, said unit having a bottom and side Walls, the chamber unit side walls being directed upwardly in a plane passing between the foraminous walls and the cabinet side walls, a baille wall extending from each of the unit side wallsto the top of the cabinet provid-ing inner and outer flues, said inner and outer flues being in communication at the top of the cabinet, a freezing coil in 'each of the inner ilues, means for establishing air communication between the chamber unit and the outer nues, van electrically operated water spray means within the chamber unit, and means for operating said air communication establishing means simultaneously with the operation of the water spray means.

2. In a refrigerator construction of the character described, a cabinet, means therein providing an ice receiving chamber, said chamber having foraminous walls, refrigerant coils positioned adjacent to the outer sides of said foraminous walls, an air conditioning chamber below the rst chamber and having an open top,v means for directing the circulation of air fromv below the airconditioning chamber to the top of the cabinet and back down across said coils into the air conditioning chamber, the downflowing air passingY over said foraminous walls, a water vapor diffusing means within the air conditioning chamber, means for opening the sides of the air conditioning chamber, and an operative coupling between the last mentioned means and the water vapor diusing means whereby the sides of the air conditioning chamber are opened simultaneously with the starting of the diffusing means.

3. The invention as stated in claim 2, with a water coil in the lower part of said ice chamber having an end directed downward into the air conditioning chamber, and said water vapor diffusing means comprising a valve closing said coil end, electro-magnetic means for opening the valve `and actuating said coupling, and a deflector plate against which water from the coilfend is discharged when the valve is openech 4. The invention as stated in claim. 2, wherein said air conditioning chamber has a bottom having a central opening, an upstanding foraminous wall upon said bottom and enclosing said opening, a cover over said' foraminous wall and said opening, and said diffusingl means being disposed directly above said cover.

5. In a refrigerator construction, a cabinet having side, top and back walls each including spaced-inner and outer wall sheets, a freezing chamber in the central upper part of the cabinet and comprising outer side Wall sheets depending from the top wall inner sheets in spaced relation with-the cabinet side walls and joining the back wall inner sheet, the chamber further including av bottom wall sheet extending forwardly from the backy wall inner sheet and a shell between and spaced from the depending side wall sheets and said; bottom; wallsheet, the shellv and the last. rnamed sheets in spaced relation therewithv ter:- minating short of the front of the cabinet', closurev means for the front of the chamber, an ice compartmenty below said chamber and having side walls depending from` said depending side wall sheets and av bottom ice supporting grid structure, a vertical baffle wall between each cabinet side wall on one side and a side of the` chamber and ice compartment sidewall on the other side forming inner and outer vertical flues, said flues being'in communication at their top ends, means forming an air conditioner chamber below the ice compartment having front, back and side walls, the air conditioner chamber side walls joining the lower ends of the baffle walls, a refrigerant' coil lying againstA the topand sides of the freezing chamber shell, a refrigerant coil in each of said inner fiues, means for putting the air conditioner compartment into communication with the .lower end of' each outer iiue, and means for diffusing water vapor into the air of the last named compartment.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, with a frame unit mounted horizontally in the cabinet, and means for supporting the ice compartment grid, the baiiies and the air conditioner chamber from said frame.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said freezer chamber bottom wall sheet is at -an 'elevation above the bottom edges of said depending side wall sheets, a drip plate supported in spaced relation with and below the bottom wall sheet, and a refrigerant coil disposed horizontally in the space between said bottom wall sheet and drip plate.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 5, with an Y open top food compartment in the lower part of the cabinet below the air conditioner chamber, said food compartment having front, side, back and bottom walls, said food compartment side walls being spaced from the cabinet side walls and from the air conditioner side walls forming side ues leading into the said outer flues.

9. 'Ihe invention as set forth in claim 5, with an open top food compartment in the lower part of the cabinet below the air conditioner chamber, said food compartment having front, side, back and bottom walls, said food compartment side walls being spaced fromthe cabinet side walls and from the air conditioner side walls forming:

side flues leadingr into the said outer flues, and a screened opening in the bottom of the air conditioner chamber for discharging cold air downwardly directly into said food compartment;

10. The invention as set forthy in claim 5, wherein'said ice compartment side walls are of foraminous character and said grid comprises front and back plates, spaced division plates connecting said front and back plates and having upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom edges, cross members secured to said bottom edges, and perforated plates lying upon said cross members between the division plates.

1l. In a refrigeration construction, a cabinet, means therein providing an upper freezer chamber, an intermediate ice compartment and a botsaid tubes and constituting a back Wall for said ice compartment, an apertured .grid bottomv for said ice compartment, said chamber and saidl compartments Yhaving side walls spaced fromtheside walls of the cabinet, said air conditioner compartment'having its sidewalls spaced farther apart than the side walls of the chamber and ice compartment and having the upper portions thereof inclined outwardly and upwardly, vertical baffles in the spaces between the cabinet side walls and the side walls of the freezer and the ice compartment, said air conditioner compartment side walls each being joined to the lower ends of the baffles, said air conditioner back wall joining at its top edge with the bottom edge of said shield plate, a pivoted window in each of the side walls and the back wall of the air conditioner compartment, a water spray nozzle directed downwardly in the air conditioner compartment, a valve for said nozzle, means for opening said valve, and means operated by and simultaneously with said valve opening means for opening said windows.

l2. A refrigerator structure of the character set forth comprising a cabinet having insulated top, side, front and back walls, the front wall having door covered openings, means forming a freezing chamber in the upper part of Said cabinet; said chamber having insulated top and side walls, said chamber side walls being spaced from the cabinet side walls, a shiftable door covering the front of said chamber, refrigerant coils in the side and top walls of said chamber, an ice compartment suspended from and beneath said chamber, said compartment having open side and bottom walls for the circulation of air therethrough, a water vapor chamber below the ice compartment and having upwardly extending walls lying between the cabinet side walls and said chamber side walls forming inner and outer vertical flues, means for producing water vapor in the vapor chamber, refrigerant coils in said inner flues at the sides of the ice compartment, and means for carrying warm air currents over from the tops of the outer flues into the inner flues,

said outer fiues being in communication with food storage space beneath the vapor chamber.

13. In a refrigerator construction, a cabinet having side, top and back walls each including spaced inner and outer wall sheets, a freezing chamber in the central upper part of the cabinet and comprising outer side wall sheets depending from the top wall inner sheets in spaced relation with the cabinet side walls and joining the back wall inner sheet, the chamber further including a bottom wall sheet extending forwardly from the back wall inner sheet and a shell between and spaced from the depending side wall sheets and said bottom wall sheet, the shell and the last named sheets in spaced relation therewith terminating short of the front of the cabinet, closure means for the front of the chamber, an ice compartment below said chamber and having side walls depending from said depending side wall sheets and a bottom ice supporting grid structure, a vertical baffle wall between each cabinet side wall on one side and a side of the chamber and ice compartment side wall on the other side forming inner and outer vertical flues, said fiues being in communication at their top ends, means forming an air conditioner chamber below the ice compartment having front, back and side walls, the air conditioner chamber side walls joining the lower ends of the baffle walls, a refrigerant coil completely encircling the freezing chamber shell, a refrigerant coil in each of said inner flues, means for putting the air conditioner compartment into communication with the lower end of each outer flue, and means :for diffusing water vapor into the air of the last named compartment.

14. In a refrigerator construction, a cabinet having side, top and back walls each including spaced inner and outer wall sheets, a freezing chamber in the central upper part of the cabinet and comprising outer side wall sheets depending from the top wall inner sheets in spaced relation with the cabinet side walls and joining the back wall inner sheet, the chamber further including a bottom wall sheet extending forwardly' from the back wall inner sheet and a shell between and spaced from the depending side wall sheets and said bottom wall sheet, the shell and the last named sheets in spaced relation therewith terminating short of the front of the cabinet, closure means for the front of the chamber, an ice compartment below said chamber and having side walls depending from said depending side wall sheets and a bottom ice supporting grid structure, a Vertical baffle wall between each cabinetfside wall on one side and a side of the chamber and ice compartment side wall on the other side forming inner and outer vertical flues, said flues being in communication attheir top ends, means forming an air conditioner chamber below the ice compartment having front, back and side walls, the air conditioner chamber side walls joining the lower ends of the baffle walls, a refrigerant coil lying against the top and sides of the freezing chamber shell, a refrigerant coil in each of said inner ilues, means for putting the air conditioner compartment into communication with the lower end of each outer flue, mea-ns for diffusing water vapor into the air of the last named compartment, and means for effecting movement of air beneath said conditioner chamber rearwardly and laterally for passage into said flues.

15. A refrigerator construction according to claim 14 wherein the last named means comprises a bottom wall for the air conditioner chamber., said bottom wall having a central upwardly and rearwardly sloping portion and upwardly and latf erally sloping portions extending from opposite sides of said central portion.

16. A refrigerator construction accordingl to claim 14 wherein said ice supporting grid comprises front and back plates, spaced division plates connecting said front and back plates and having upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom edges, connecting members secured to and transversely of said division plates bottom edges, perforated plates disposed between the division plates and supported on said connecting members, said division plates each comprising upper and lower parts in edge to edge relation, the .opposing edges of said division plate parts having matching recesses, a water coil lying horizontally in openings formed by the said matching recesses, means for supplying water to one end ,of said coil, anda coupling between the other end of the coil and said water vapor diffusing means. Y

17. The invention according to claim 16,.where in each of said perforated plates is of inverted flattened V form in cross-section.

ARTHUR J. PEDIGO.

References Cited in the file of this patent A UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

